Compacting apparatus



Dec. 21, 1937.

T. BOWERS COMPACTING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 4, 1936 Dec. 21, 1937. T BQWERS 2,103,142

COMPACTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet -4 I l I l I I I l I Dec. 21, 1937. A, BOWERS COMPACTING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 4, 1936 I 211167755 ZA Q. 3m

moz'mgg COMPACTING'APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 21, 1937. T BOWERS COMPACTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1936 7 SheetS -Sheet 7 aworwgy Patented Dec. 21, 1937 i r. V.

UNITED STATES PA-TENT OFFICE COMPACTING APPARATUS Thomas A. Bowers, Boston, Mass. 7 Application January 4, 1936, Serial No. 57,569

8 Claims. (01. 153-32) I My present invention relates to a compacting The principal object of my invention is there apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus fore an improved compacting apparatus for use for compacting a reversely bent material into a with reversely bent material. substantially solid body. Another object is a compacting apparatus of When a strip or sheet of reversely bent matethe character described which will efiect comrial is compacted there is formed a substantially pacting with the elimination of buckling efiects solid body which may be used for a variety of and with substantially uniform disposition of the purposes, one of the more important being its ap- Webs.

plication as packing. If a metal strip is used, Another object is an aparatus as described emthe compacted material may form a very satis ploying friction means for closing which will not 10 factory piston ring. score the material and .is free from clogging The present invention is concerned with appaeffects. ratus for compacting reversely bent material in Still another object is compacting apparatus either a straight state or a curved state and a suitable for use in compacting agiven length of 5 preferred embodiment will comprise means for material of several different classes. compacting material into a substantially circular Other objects and novel features comprising the body for use as a piston ring. The reversely bent construction and operation of my invention willmaterial will be referred to throughout the specifiappear a e d s p of the Same progresses.

cation as having bends or crowns which comprise n t drawings illustrating the p e d e o the points in the material at which bending ocbodiment of my invention, 2O curs. Those portions of material occurring be- Fig. 1 is a p a ew f y p o ed p cttween the points of bending will be referred to as ing apparatus more particularly illustrating a webs. The material may be compacted with the modification for compacting keystone shaped crowns and webs occurring in either a vertical or crown material.

.-horizontal plane. There may occur several diffi- Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the 25 culties in compacting reversely bent material. line 2- ofFig. 1. There is a tendency for the material to compact Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a length of keyin a non-uniform manner, as for instance when stone shaped material; that portion at the right the compacting occurs in a curved direction the handside of Fig. 3 being ina compacted state and ..webs may not become disposed in a true radial recomprising a plan view as it appears in a finished 30 lation with respect to one another. Also buckling ring. 3

may occur whereby all of the crowns are not dis- Fig. 4' is a cross section taken on the. line 4-4 posed in the same plane. Considerable care must of Fig. 2. be exercised to avoid scoring the metal and there Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 is further a tendency for clogging to take place of Fig. 2. r 35 especially where tooth members are applied to .Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on the line 6-6 compact the material. I of Fi 2,

I ai my mp in r s l by ma use Fig.7 is a View showing in perspective one side of a friction principle and the present device comof the composite presser f t Vmemben newstmcmre embodying Such a Principle Fig. 8 is a plan cross section taken on the line 49 081 tam modified e 8-8 of Fig. 5 fragmentarily showing a fulllength My present apparatus provlded Wlth of the machine with some of the elements refications which are designed to more efiiciently compact several classes of reversely bent matemoved from the upper part of themachme' t-rial. Among these classes are a simple reversely 9 Zertlcal secnotl n? the lute bent material, a reversely bent material with. keyz stone shaped crown portions, and a reversely bent 10 1S a View S QWmg 1n detailed perspective material with right angle keystone shaped crown b base member l portions. Each of these classes of material may 15 another detained Perspective lead involve difiering compacting operations and guide e .50

each of them may be engaged along the edges Fig. 12 is a view showing in elevation a portion i and/or crowns and packed in either a straight or of a modified friction wheel uc a may s curved direction. w in my apparatus t Aiurther discussion of these differences in the Fig. 13 is a View similar to Fig. .5 but withthe .material willbe set forth hereafter. difference that a modified presser foot andfchanw 55 nel base have been shown more particularly suitable for use in closing straight material.

Fig. 14 is a view showing in detailed perspective the modified channel base illustrated in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is aview similar to Fig. 3 and showing a length of straight material somewhat exaggerated.

Fig. 16 is a vertical cross section taken on the line Iii-l6 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 17 is a viewshowing in detailed perspective one of the adjustable channel sides illustrated in Fig. 13.

Fig. 18 is a plan view somewhat similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified apparatus for compacting right angle keystone shaped material.

Fig. 19 is a vertical cross section taken onthe line |9|9 of Fig. 18. l

Fig. 20 is a view showing in detailed elevation a stripper member as used in the modified apparatus illustrated in Fig. 18.

Fig. 21 is a side elevation of a length of right angle keystone shaped 'material.

Fig. 22 is an elevational view of another modified compacting mechanism illustrating a rotating disc and dog assembly for compacting a given length of material into a ring.

Fig. 23 is a plan view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 22. V

Fig. 24 is a plan View showing in detail the annular compacting channel illustrated in Figs. 22 and 23.

Fig. 25 is a greatly enlargeddetail view of the rotating disc .anddog assembly in. end elevation and Fig. 26 is a detailed perspective view of the 'dog member shown in Figs- 22 to 25 inclusive and more clearly illustrating a cylindrical block and spindle support for said dog.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, Figs. 1-12, inclusive, illustrate a compacting apparatus which is; provided-with a pair of friction wheels common to all modifications of compacting apparatus herein referred to. Several of the other elements of the. machine however, are particularly designed for use in compacting a class of material which I have designated as keystone material. This material. comprises the usual reversely bent material which. has been further formed withv thick crown portions at the bends. These crowns are formed in a keystone or wedge shaped manner such that they comprise a solid segment of material having one side longer thanv the opposite side'asillustrateduin Fig. 3'. A more detailed discussion of this material is" set forth in copending applications, Serial No. 54,152 filed December 12, 1935, No. 54,153 filed December 12, 1935, No. 36,812 filed August 19, 1935, No. 39,594 filed September 7, 1935, and No. 733,472 filed July 2, 1934. I g r Y Figs. 13-17 inclusive illustrate another modified apparatus for use in compacting a straight material, that is a material in which the bends are formed with rectangular crowns similar to those illustrated in Fig. 15.

Figs. 18-21 inclusive, illustrate another modified compacting apparatus which is designed for use in closing a different class of reversely bent material which I have designated as right angle keystone material. This material is also formed by reversely bending a ribbon or sheet ofmaterial but is then considered as it appears turned at right angles.

With the keystone materiahitjs'hould noted that the bends are considered as tops and bottoms which are formed with thickened portions of a keystone shape to comprise top and bottom land surfaces of a piston ring. The edges of a metal ribbon become folded and compacted together and comprise inner and outer surfaces adapted to engage against the piston groove and the cylinder wall respectively.

With the right angle keystone material, the bends are turned at right angles and then become more properly described as inner and outer bends. These bends are also thickened with a rectangular crown formation but in such a manner that all of the inner bends for contacting the piston groove will have one crown size and all of the'outer bends for contacting the cylinder wall will have a larger crown size. This results in the right angle construction.

Figs. 22-26, inclusive, illustrate a further compacting apparatus which is designed to compact a predetermined length'oi material such as that length which might comprise a given size piston ring. This type of apparatus may be used for circularly compacting any of the classes of material previously cited and'described.

Again having reference to the drawings and particularly to the ,modification illustrated in Figs. 1-12, inclusive, any suitable bed constructtion may be used as for example that shown in the drawings in which I9 denotes a bed member having lateral supporting base portions I adapted to maintain the bed in a raised position. Slidably keyed in the bed ID are U shaped castings l2, the bottom portions of which have outwardlybeveled edges comprising slides |3 which may engage in ways M of the bed i8. Centrally and vertically disposed through the inner extremities of the castings l2 are rods I?) having ed bosses It as better shown in Fig. 2. The bed;

l3 may be recessed at i 9 to provide for receiving the collared portions l6 of rods l5 in a laterally adjustable manner and may be further constructed with downwardly extending flange portions 26 through which have been "horizontally mounted threaded bolt members 2|, the bolt members 2| in turn engaging through the threaded bosses l8 and having their inner extremities secured by a turnbuckle construction in further depending'trunnions 22 of bed ID.

solidly mounted about the rods l5 and adjacent the U members IZ are bearing members 24 and spacingblocks 2'3. Journaled about the rods and provided with bushings 25 are a pair of wheels generally indicated by the numeral-26. The upper ends of the rods i5 have been thread ed as indicated at 21 in Fig. 4 and engaged therearound are levers 21a.

It will be seen that two adjustments of the rod and wheel assembly in the bed i0 may be had. Thelever 21 is adapted to tightly compress the castings I2, rod l5, spacing block 23 and bearing 24 against the bed l0, and when such tension is released the position of the whole rod may be laterally adjusted by'advancing the boss l8 along supporting means are intended tobe illustrative of various methods of providing a wheel assembly. The wheels 26 herein shown comprise a combined drivemechanism and friction mem- The present-wheel assembly and adjustable bers, there having been constructed rim portions 26a shouldered at 28 to receive friction shoes 29 thereon and having gear teeth 30 struck out around their lower portions. It should be understood that various types of friction wheels are intended to be used not necessarily forming a part of the drive mechanism.

In Figs. 5 and 8, I have indicated a guide adjustment block 3| which may be used and has one end located adjacent the lateral upstanding side portion 32 of the bed I0 with a slight clearance being provided therebetween. Adjustment bolts 33 may be threaded through the side portions 32 and be adapted to bear against opposite sides of the adjustment block 3| which may be secured to the bed Ii] by means of a countersunk bolt 34. The other end of the adjustment block 3| may be provided with a wedge shaped extremity adapted to extend inwards to a point adjacent the engaged surfaces of the teeth 30 on the wheels 26.

Block 3| may support a pair of guide members 35 which are oppositely disposed thereon and secured by means of bolts 36 passing through adjustment slots 36a better illustrated in Fig. 7. It'will be noted that these guide members 35 have annularly beveled extremities which are adapted to coincide with the periphery of the friction wheels 26 sothat the extreme tips 31 of guide members 35 may extend inwardly to a point just short of dead center and a true centering adjustment of the two guides may be effected by loosening bolts 34 and 36 and advancing or withdrawing the bolts 33. The adjustment block 3| may be further provided with a vertical slot 3! adapted to receive a bridge member to be discussed later and the two guide members 35 may ordinarily be maintained apart a distance equal to the width of the slot 37.

At the right hand side of the device as viewed in Fig. 8 of the drawings, I have located a lead base 38 which may be of some convenient shape as illustrated and firmly bolted to the bed ill at 39 and further supported by a sleeve and bolt assembly 40. This lead base 38 is similarlybeveled as guide members 38 to be disposed adjacent the wheels 26 at their opposite side and likewise may be provided with a bridge slot 31a. On the lead base 39 may be mounted a lead member 4| which is secured thereto by means of bolts 42 and comprise a channelled member which is tapered at its inner end'and terminates adjacent the wheels 26 as is better shown in Fig. 6.

Laterally disposed adjacent the left hand side 32 of bed In, as viewed in Fig. 1, I have mounted a second spacing block 44 supported by sides 45. Upon the block 44, there has been located a pair of movable channel sides or presser foot members 46 which may be recessed at 41 to provide a slot of the same dimension as slots 31 and 31a.

' previously referred to-and they have their inner lead member 4 I ,member 41 has a supporting edge 48 which is annularly formed and at the lower portion of its curve may be constricted at 49 which is the point at which the wheels engage a reversely folded material 56 when passed therebetween from the Also bridge 41, if used with a apparatusmay be cut out along the beveled edges 5| to provide for meshing of the teeth 35 therethrough. In Fig. 5 it 'may be seen that the guide block 35 projects inwardly to a point adjacent the channel base portion 48 of bridge 4?.

The channel sides 46 may be provided with two adjustments, for example bolts 52 may be threaded through lug portions 53 and be adapted to have their ends advance against the channel sides 46 and adjust them in a desired longitudinal position while adjustable side rails as 54 maybe secured above the block 44 at 55. Upon the lead base 38 at 56 may be provided two threaded post members 51 located at one side ofsai-d presser foot 46 and twoother threaded bolt and compression spring assemblies 58 may be provided at the other side of said presser foot 46 so that any desired lateral adjustment and compression force may he arrived at. Transversely mounted across the side rails 54 is a strap 54a through which have been vertically located combined driving mechanism and friction roll headed set screws 5511. which are adapted tohave their lower extremities screwed against the top" of the channel sides or presser feet 46 and maintain same in a fixed position.

Mounted on the under side of the block 44 solidly about a shaft 59 which extends vertically through the said block is a pinion 66 adapted to engage with the inner wheel 26'which may drive same from a source of energy not shown. The pinion has been indicated as one means of pro viding a drive for the wheels 26 but it should be understood that I contemplate making use ofvarious conventional gear drives in association with rotating friction members.

In the operation of the modification illustrated in Figs. 1-12, inclusive, a length of material 5&3 is entered in the lead member 4| as shown in Fig. 6. It should be noted that the material is keystone shaped and preformed with segments of material at the bends which I have designated as crowns 6|. It is of course possible to compact-- plain reversely bent material in this same appa ratus. The crowns 6| will preferably be disposed in a sidewise and vertical manner in the lead 4| as illustrated in'Fig. 6 so that as the material immerges from the lead along the channel base 48,

' being held in place by the guide members 35 and there is built up an adjustable back pressure in the channel members. By properly regulating the friction force of the wheels and this back pressure it is possible to compact the'material 5.3 such that the legs are packed in a substantially uniform position and this is a highlyidesirable function.

It should also be noted that as one side of the keystone crown is of greater dimension than the opposite'side, a plurality of these crowns tend to compact along a curved path and hence the chain nel may be designed with a curved base. The im-' portanceof disposing the legs as true radii becomes apparent from consideration of the fact that when formed in a piston ring they contact the curved cylinder surface and if they are to completely contact the said surface, they must be truly vertical with respect to it. The channel sides also perform a second function of maintaining the material against the. channel base so that buckling will not occur thereby insuring that the crowns will lie adjacent one another in a true circular path and with this friction means of compacting there is no opportunity for cloggingto occur nor will there be any: possibility of the crowns or edges becoming damaged or scored.

In Figs. 13-17 inclusive, I have illustrated a modified compacting structure which may be used for compacting plain reversely bent material or material formed with rectangular crowns. The compacting occurs in a straight line resulting in a straight length of the closed stock.

The base of this modified machine may be substantially the same as that in the modification disclosed in Figs. 1-12 inclusive, comprising a bed 10, an adjustable guide .block base 3| secured thereto by a countersunk bolt 34 and'a pair of friction Wheels 26 adjustably secured in said base in a similar manner as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The guide block base 3|, indicated, in Fig. 16,

may be grooved to receive a bridge. member 53 more clearly shown in Fig. 14 which'may similarly be cut out with beveled edges 64 to permit engagement of gear teeth therethrough.

The-other end of the bridge 63 is constructed with a long fin portion which rests over the guide block base 3| and extends out to the side of the bed l0. Mounted across the base 3| is plate 65 which is also groovedv to receive the bridge 63 and mounted on the guide 65 is a pair of channel sides 66 secured thereto by means of bolts 61.

of a set screw 68 as shown in'Fig. 16. The channel sides 65 act similarly as the side members 46 shown in Fig. 5 with the difference that they. have been recessed at 68 along their inner sidesso that when brought together as shown in Fig. 16, they form a guide shoulder 69 just above a material '10 located therein. a

At the right hand side of the channel sides 66, as viewed in Fig. 16, I have mounted adjustment posts" H which are fastened through the plate 65 by means of bolts and are adapted to locate these sides. At the left of the channelsides, I have similarly disposed bolt and compression spring members 13. These compression members are adapted to regulate the contact of the sides with the material 10.

In Fig. 13, 15 denotes a lead plate member for receiving unclosed material 19 and delivering it to the friction Wheels 26-and is supported by a bolt and sleeve assembly 16. In Fig. 5, the material 78 has been shown in exaggerated size illustrating the rectangular crowns T! in both an-open V ings as seen in Fig. 13. The-same straight packing is effected without'bucklin'g, clogging or scoring of the material.

In Figs. 18-21 inclusive, I have illustrated an other modified compacting apparatus designed particularly for use in compacting the so-called.

right angle keystone material. Duev to the fact that, as mentioned above, it is preferable al- It should be noted that longitudinal movement of the bridge 83 may be controlled by means it passes over the though not absolutely necessary, to apply this friction force to the crown portions of the re-.

versely bent material, compacting has been illustrated as occurring in a curved path and in a plane horizontal with respect to the machine. The same reason accounts for the compacting of the keystone material, described above, occurring'in' a plane verticalto the machine. It will be noted therefore that I may if desired, reverse this procedure, that is to sayjapply the friction force of the wheels to the edges of the reversely Again having reference to the modification in,

Figs. 18-21 inc., the apparatus may comprise base, casting and wheel construction similar to that previously illustrated and described with the only difference being that one of the friction shoes 29 has been. recessed to receive a stripper plate 18 better shown in Figs. 19 and 2G and supported at 8la. A block member "l9 has been located along the side of the bed H3 and supported by means of bolt and sleeve units so and 81. At the opposite sideon the bed Ill, I have located a lead plate 82 similarto those previously described and again supported by means of bolt and sleeve assemblies 83 engaging through Upon the block member 19, I have further adjustably secured a slotted channel plate 84 In Figs. 22-26 inclusive,,I have illustrated a.

still further modification of compacting apparatus which may be used for any type of reverse-.

ly bent material and which differs from those modifications previously discussed in that the material as passed from the-friction wheels compacts against a moving resistance of a positive nature. 7 Y

' As in the previous modification, a similar bed and friction wheel assembly may be employed in which may be mounted some suitable bridging meanssuch as for example a bridge. or channel base similar to those already illustrated.

In Fig. 22, I. have illustrated the upper structure of a compacting apparatus-inwhichappear fragmentarily a'bed Ill, driving mechanism 26,

adjustment blocks 3|, bridge Q1 and. channel sides 46. Adjacent the channel sides 45 and engaged slightly over the bridge 41,. at the left hand side thereof as viewed in Fig. 22, I have located an open grooved compacting ring- 89- which is. formed in an offset manner. with respect to they vertical plane ofthe ring. I have further provided a pair of supporting arms. 90

which are horizontally maintained at their sex-.-

tremities above the machine by means of uprights not shown. The arms 90 are in turn provided with brackets 9l which are adapted to solidly engage with the ring 89 at either side thereof and maintain it in a fixed position.

In a similar manner, I have horizontally disposed a shafting 92 across the machine and above it and again, the supports therefore as Well as a gear train associated with some drive as pinion 58, have not been shown. Upon the shaft 92, I have keyed a disc 93 which is adapted to rotate with shaft 92 and have a diameter allowing for location of the disc partly in the ring 89.

At a point on the peripheryof the disc 93, Ihave recessed and secured a spring and dog assembly. Transversely and internally disposed in a slot 94a in the disc 93, at a point adjacent its periphery is a cylindrical block 94 having an out- Wardly extending shoulder portion 95, the outer surface of which coincides with and forms a part of the periphery of the disc 93. A further extending dog portion 96 projects beyond the said periphery.

Block 94 is further provided with a transversely disposed spindle 91 which has its outer end mounted through a U support member 9?. solidly secured to the face of the disc 93. About the spindle 91, there has been disposed a coiled spring member 99 and a washer IE6 is firmly pinned to the spindle 9! in such a manner that the action of the spring 99 tends to compressibly maintain the whole dog assembly against the right hand side of disc 93 as viewed in Fig. 25.

In operation the disc 93 is located in the ring 89 as shown with the dog portion 96 engaged in the groove llll of ring 89. The disc is then rotated to take a position whereby the dog 96 will be located at the extreme left hand extremity of ring 89 as viewed in Fig. 22, and the machine is then ready to receive material.

A material Q02, indicated at the right hand side of Fig. 22, is entered between the friction rolls and then passed into the groove llll of ring 89 being compacted thereby against the dog 95 which starts to travel around the ring in the groove. As the material passes around the ring groove, it is slightly offset in accordance with the formation of the ring and the dog 96 is pressed inward against spring 99. When the dog reaches the olfset extremity of the ring 89, it springs back into the original alignment and re-enters the groove H3! in readiness for another compacting operation. The resistance of the rotating dog may be varied by some suitable means such as the gearing which has been illustrated. With the present type of apparatus any class of material may be compacted and usually a given length will be cut oil at some point during passage of the material through the friction members.

It should be understood that Ihave in mind the application of various modifications in compacting apparatus utilizing a friction closing principle for compacting material of varying proportions and bend formations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

. 1. An apparatus for compacting a reversely bent material comprising a pair of friction wheels adapted to engage said material, a curved slideway for receiving the engaged material in a retarded manner and means for actuating said friction members, said slide way being curved in a vertical plane and adapted to compact the upper bends of the material faster than the lower bends.

2. In an apparatus for compacting a reversely bent material into a substantially solid body, a pair of diametrically opposed wheels adapted to engage the said material therebetween, a track for supporting and guiding said material vertically disposed below said wheels, a curvedslideway for receiving said engaged material and means for rotating said wheels, said slide way being curved in a horizontal plane whereby one edge of the material is compacted substantially more tightly than the opposite edge.

3. An apparatus to compact a reversely bent metal ribbon comprising rotary friction members, said friction members being spaced apart and adapted to engage said material therebetween, a channelled lead member for entering said material between said friction members, a bridge member located between said friction members and having one end adjacent said lead member, and adjustable channel sides located adjacent the sides of the other end of the said bridge member.

4. A machine to close a reversely bent metal ribbon comprising a base, a pair of friction Wheels rotatably mounted in said base, a centering block mounted on said base and provided with a wedge shaped extremity located adjacent the point of engagement of said wheels with material passing therebetween adjustable channel sides disposed on said block adapted to provide a resistance against the passage of the said material from the wheels and means for driving the said wheels.

5. A machine for closing a reversely bent metal ribbon into a substantially solid circular body comprising a base, spaced apart friction surfaces located thereon in a horizontal manner, a curved horizontally disposed stripper plate slidably recessed in one of the said friction surfaces, an annular channel base and side located adjacent said stripper plate and supported by holding means on said base.

6. An apparatus for compacting a reversely bent material into a substantially solid circular body comprising rotatable friction members adapted to engage and pass the said material therebetween, a compacting ring located adjacent one side of said friction members and adapted to receive the said material as it passes from said friction members and compact it into a solid circular body.

7. An apparatus for compacting a reversely bent material into a substantially solid circular body comprising rotatable friction members adapted to receive and deliver the material with a positive force, a compacting ring located adjacent one side of said friction members adapted to slidably receive said material in a retarded manner, said ring being provided with a grooved inner periphery, a disc rotatably disposed in said ring and provided with an adjustable dog portion adapted to engage in said groove and provide a moving resistance to material passing around said groove.

8. A machine to close a reversely bent metal ribbon comprising a bed, a pair of vertical shaft members located therethrough, ways recessed in said bed and U shaped castings having lower slide portions located in said Ways, a pair of friction wheels journaled about said shaft and located within said castings, a spacing block solidly located between said wheel and said casting,v a guide block secured between one side of said bed and said wheels, a channel base member recessed therein in a vertical manner and extending between said friction wheels and further provided with a constricted central portion, channel sides located on said guide block and adjacent said bridge member.

THOMAS A. BOWERS. 

